#anywhere

"Aye. He's mine."

"Mmm cute familiar." A grunt then "Thanks for getting me out of the tree. " She gives her email address. "Appreciate , Raven. Why'd you come to the area?"

"I wished for some proper autumn, not whatever hot nonsense New York was having."

"Never was a witch that confined herself to just two seasons" Stineag nods knowingly, "here... let me give you a gift of sorts..." She touchees the tree and chants "Down to the root, up to the leaves, let the flow of magic now achieve... whisper tales to my new witch friend, of figures approaching their lives in... what you know, what youv'e seen, answer this question: What was their story"

It's a powerful cantrip... and wide spread! Stineag isn't as powerful as Zara in many ways, but the sheer distance covered, it seems dozens of trees begin whispering softly....

"They met for years under me" another says "He was black, she white... in a time when such unions were not allowed. They'd grown too old to couple... but every start of every autumn they gathered under the red and gold of my glory and held hands"

"I remember the girl, she climbed me as a child, she used me for picnics when she grew. She had her first kiss under me... and she introduced her boy to me... the boy grew to be a man. And against the law of his land, he buried her old body under me. My roots entwine with what is left... he returned a few years in a row, tears in his eyes. I would thank him if I had lips. She was dear to me."

And so on, all over, the woods are filled with whispering answers to the question

"Oh..." Delight!

"Let's see an 'enchantress' pull that off" Stineag snorts in a whisper so not to break the spell "Prissy little magic teases"

"Precisely..." A gesture of her elegant fingers, and shadows dance to the stories - furtive figures, ephemeral tricks of light.

The whispers and shadows blend under the colorful leaves and the canopy they form turning into a grand pageant of display- loss, lives winding down, seeds planted for later, a time of gathering for the cold times to come, and a time for remember the summer days with wiser vision. Earl gazes and spins a bit overwhelmed and no doubt inspired. The shadows seem to take inspiration from the whispers in what shape to form.

Zara laughs - a soft raspy rattle, the rustle of dry grass.

A deeper chuckle from the redcap witch and she too is impressed. And then... the magic winds down, like the gears on an old watch grinding to their last tick...

tock.

when it ends, the other Witch grins "Damn, Raven! That was good!"

"Thank you, Stineag. Your magic was quite lovely!"

"Liked the shadowwork.yeah.. you should consider joining the coven, we could use someone like you." She slides her broom between her legs and makes a kicking /reving motion....

"Take care!"

"Ha! People should take care when they see ME! " She breaks into a cackle, and from the broom Music plays. A heavy metal instrumental riff of 'Defying gravity' breaks out and she zooms into the sky

Earl watches her go, then looks at Zara "Did you know there was a self styled Coven of Apples?"

"I did not."

"How do you find the oddest people" He says then "And yes, I realize I open myself to a jibe by asking that"

She grins!

"They might be interesting."

He chuffs and puts an arm around her "Have you had a good time, love?"

"I have. I feel better."

"Good, one more cup before we go? or would you rather gather the treasures the trees have offered for your working? " Noting some of the fallen bright leaves freshly dropped

"Leaves, aye!" She dances about, collecting them with glee... goth glee, but glee.

Earl helps, making small suggestions here and there, but he leaves the actual plucking to her. A witch's deft touch might be required.

Some she disdains, for no reason apparent to her love.

And they are left. Whim or reason makes no matter to him, she has her ways and he adores them for they are a part of her, "This one looks a bit like a star..."

"Aye, it does - do you remember that dinosaur movie?"

"Not well... " He admits

"Oh, the star-leaf, it was a gift from his mother, and she died..."

"Well then, is that a sign we should get it or leave it be?"

"Get it, I think."

And he plucks it up carefully as he has seen her handle the others.

A kiss, in reward

He returns it, then smiles, "Sometimes I think you're training me through positive reinforcement"

"Just call me Pavlov."

"Pardon my drool" And he takes her in his arms and kisses her again

A soft chuff, pleased and content.

Fall Leaves, Autumn Kisses, and tea.... plus a meeting with a witch which leads to new knowledge. It has been a wonderful day, and when they flicker flash back to their still new home... well, they take much of that autumn with them.

(End scene)

Elsewhere, others are enjoying the leaves too! A puppy pooka tromps through the trails around the lodge, singing aloud to himself...

Young man!

There are leaves all around!

I said, YOUNG MAN!

Crunchin' leaves on the ground!

I SAID, YOUNG MAN!

Don't they make a cool sound?!

When you CRUNCH! THEM! WITH! YOUR! STOMPERS!

stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp!

It's fun to crunch

Leaves On The Ground!"

-aside-

Tove steals the notes.